Here we go! (Jan/Feb 2011)

Mar 04, 2011

This is my first ever blog so here we go!

Hi everyone, my name is Amy, I'm 38, married w/ 3 kids & I live in Central Illinois.  I was always a bit overweight as a kid and thru high school but nothing major.  I have been gaining weight since college and now it is really affecting my health.  I now have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and a whole host of aches and pains.  I have been contemplating WLS for probably 5 years now, but, up until this year, I did not have insurance that covered it. (Sidenote: Wal-Mart's employee insurance sucks!)  Anyway, as soon as I found out my new ins(Health Alliance) offers WLS coverage, I was on the phone setting up Dr. appts! 

My ins requires the 6 month physician supervised weight loss period.  I began my initial visit on Jan. 11, 2011 with a weight of 279 lbs.  On Feb. 28, 2011, I had my 1 month(actually longer than a month b/c of of available appts) follow-up....weighing in at 284  !!!!!  Ok, I'll admit I hadn't put my nose to the grindstone with the whole diet process yet, but, I also was on Prednisone and several rounds of antibiotics during that time too for a nasty case of bronchitis and pleurisy.  I am guessing that had something to do with the gain.  My Dr. also put me on cholesterol meds at this appt.

I thought I had decided on the Lap-Band surgery with Dr. Sidney Rohrscheib in Champaign, IL, but, now I'm not sure!  My best friend from grade school had the band in Mar. 2010 With Dr. R and has lost over 100lbs and looks fabulous, but she does not eat healhfully at all.  I am not sure I trust myself with the band...its too easy to eat candy and ice cream and all those things that got me to where I am in the first place!  So, I am going to also explore the RNY option at Carle Hospital in Champaign.  Although the RNY scares the pants off me as far as the more invasive nature of the surgery and just the idea that my insides would actually be altered...kinda freaks me out.  I'm also concerned about becoming too thin after RNY.  I want to have a curvy womanly figure as my "after" and the Lap-Band would allow me to stop losing at a point in which I feel comfortable in my own skin.  So much to think about.  Not sure which route I'm going to take at this point.

My next hurdle is the psych eval also required by my ins.  That appt is Mar. 16.  I really don't know what to expect but it is supposed to be a 50 min written test followed by 50 minutes of interview.  Sort of daunting but I have seen this Dr. before and trust him and feel somewhat relaxed with him.  I'll post after I have that under my belt.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone with a projected Aug. 2011 surgery date or anyone with a similar situaltion.

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